Improvement in feather-renovators



T. J. ADAMS. FEATHER RENOVATORS.

No. 195,554. Patented Sept.25,1877.

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PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE J. ADAMS, 0F WHITEHALL, NEW YORK.

IMIE'RQVEMENT IN FEATHER-RENOVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,554, datedSeptember 25, 1877 application filed September 18, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnnononn J. ADAMS, of the town of Whitehall,county-of Washington, State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Renovators for Feathers, Hair, Moss, &c., of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the same.

Like letters whenever they occur indicate like parts.

Figure l is a central vertical section. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectiontaken on line w m Fig. 1.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple device thatwill effectually renovate, clean, and dry feathers and other analogousmaterial, and prevent dirt and filth from accumulating in the apparatus.

The machines at present in use for this purpose are generally expensiveand complicated, and are not provided with means, like mine, forcleaning the drying or surrounding chamber, or at least automaticallycleaning it out by the steam after being used. Hence the dirt washedfrom the feathers accumulates, and not only clogs the machine and limitsits amount of work, but it necessarily does not do perfect work, and thefeathers are often found somewhat discolored or not thoroughly cleaned.

I have long tried to obviate these difficulties without making themachine complicated and expensive, and have succeeded.

My invention consists in the details of construction and combinationhereinafter more fully set forth in the claims.

A is an outer cylinder, having ends B, and within this cylinder is apartially-cylindrical receptacle, 0, having ends D, and secured at itsupper edges to the outer cylinder, by which means it is held in placerigidly.

The inner cylinder is the receptacle for the feathers or material to betreated, and is provided with suitable perforations 0 along thecylindrical part, and may have perforations in one or both of its endswhen necessary. These cylinders and their ends are generally made ofzinc, but may be made of any other material, or have wooden ends, ifdesired. A central solid shaft, E, passes through both of the cylinders,and is journaled in the right-hand bearing of a supporting-frame, F, andis provided with stirrers or paddles G, radiating from it into the innercylinder, so that when the shaft is turned by the removable crank H thefeathers in the inner cylinder will be loosened up or mixed, and hencemade lighter and more easily cleaned or dried. The outer cylinder A issupported at one end by this shaft E in the bearing of the frame, andhas attached to its opposite end a hollow gudgeon, I, provided withholes 0' and two flanges, j, one being fastened to the outer cylinderand the other to the inner cylinder. This gudgeon forms the left-handbearing of the outer cylinder, and is supported by and turns in theleft-hand bearing of the frame.

The outer cylinder can be turned, when necessary, to empty out thefeathers or to bring the device into a convenient position to becleaned, as hereinafter referred to.

The inner cylinder or feather-receptacle is much shorter than theoutside cylinder, and smaller in diameter, which leaves large spaces J Kbetween the ends of the cylindersthat is, between the inside and outsidecylindersand a space, L, between the bodies of the cylinders. In theouter cylinder are two large ports or openings, M N, on the upper side,communicating with the spaces or drums J K, and have steam-tight hingedcovers 0, that can be opened or closed at will.

The operation is as follows: The feathers to be cleaned 0r repovated areplaced in the inner cylinder through the opening 0, and thetight-fitting cover or lid 1) is closed and se cured by the catch q.Steam is admitted to the spaces J G K through the hollow gudgeon I inthadirection of the arrow, and passes through its holes 6, therebyfilling the entire space around the inner cylinder, and entering thelatter through its side perforations e and end perforations, wheneverthese are used, thereby permeating the feathers and washing and cleaningthem thoroughly. The condensed steam falls on the inside and bottom ofthe outside cylinder, and carries away the dirt in the water out intoapan, P, through the outletport 8. The pan sits upon the frame-work, andcan be removed and emptied when full. The heat of the cylinder,

after the steam is shut off and the water runs out, is suflficient todry the feathers, the crank being turned and the feathers being loosenedup or agitated at the same time. The apparatus is then readily cleansedfrom smell and dirt by turning it upon its bearings and bringing theports M N down, when either or both are opened and steam is forcedthrough the machine, as before, whereby it is thoroughly cleaned out,and in a few moments ready for use again.

It is obvious that the parts may be very difi'erentlyconstructed withoutdepartingfrom the spirit of my invention.

The ports M N may be situated at difi'erent points to lead to the spacesJ K C, and may be less or more in number; and the particular form of theouter and inner cylinders may be somewhat changed in order to permit thedirt to escape, or for other purposes.

THEODORE J. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN FISH, J was QUINN.

